The Elizabeth Gaskell Collection

Three of the beloved Victorian author's stories sweep you away in these star-studded and endlessly entertaining BBC adaptations. In Cranford, starring Oscar®-winner Dame Judi Dench, you'll follow the delights and disappointments of life and love in a bustling 1840s English town. In North & South, a young woman from rural southern England feels out of place in the industrial north until she falls in love with a northerner. And in Wives and Daughters, pretty Molly Gibson must suddenly cope with an impossible stepmother, burdensome secrets and blossoming romance. Enjoy all three rich, dramatic comedies of manners and romance, as seen on PBS and BBC America.

Cranford
Episode 1 - Mary Smith flees a crisis at home in Manchester to stay with two spinster sisters, Deborah Jenkyns and Matty Jenkyns, in the small, rural town of Cranford. Deborah is the dominating force in Cranford society, and the kind-hearted and eccentric Matty believes her to be the best judge in all matters.
A new young doctor, Frank Harrison, is brought to Cranford to join Dr Morgan in his medical practice. Despite Dr Morgan's talking up his protégé, the mere fact that Frank is a young bachelor and trained in London is enough to make him the talk of the town. When the town's carpenter, Jem Hearne, has a catastrophic fall from a tree, Dr Morgan is horrified to learn that, instead of amputating the injured arm, Dr Harrison is determined to attempt new and risky surgery. Everyone gets involved in the case, and gossip and rumour spread, led by the unassailable Miss Pole.
Meanwhile, Cranford's reigning aristocrat, Lady Ludlow, who lives two miles outside Cranford at the splendid Hanbury Court, wants to turn her attention to the planning of her annual garden party with her trusted estate manager, Mr Carter.
The Jenkyns are intrigued when the house across the street is let to a retired soldier, Captain Brown, his daughter Jessie, and Jessie's ailing older sister. Deborah and Matty are riveted to see that he seems acquainted with another local aristocrat, Sir Charles Maulver, who engages the Captain in an unknown business proposal.

Episode 2 - Deborah surprises Matty by encouraging Jessie's romance with a visiting soldier named Major Gordon.
Cranford's ladies are focused on preparing for Lady Ludlow's Garden Party, the social event of the year. New bonnets are made by the town's long-suffering milliner Miss Galindo, and there's a new gown for Caroline Tomkinson, who has fallen for Dr Harrison and is eager to impress him. Dr Harrison has set his sights on Sophy Hutton, the eldest daughter of Cranford's rector, Reverend Hutton. But Mary Smith's stepmother Clara is determined to play matchmaker between the doctor and Mary.
Forced to assume responsibility for feeding his family, 10-year-old Harry Gregson instructs his little brother Malachi how to steal milk from Mrs Forrester's beloved cow, Bessie. Unfortunately, six-year-old Malachi forgets to close the gate and Bessie escapes.
Meanwhile, Harry sets off to poach to feed the others but becomes transfixed by Lady Ludlow's glasshouse and the exotic plants and fruits he sees there. Cold and exhausted, he falls asleep on the heated floor and is caught the following morning by Mr Carter. However, Mr Carter is so moved by Harry's dismal poverty that he offers to pay Harry to run messages for him during the preparations for the garden party. Harry proves to be reliable, good-natured and intelligent, and Mr Carter offers to teach him to read and write. This is something to be done secretly, as he is fully aware that Lady Ludlow is passionately against educating the working classes.
Matty, meanwhile, is clearly shaken when, at the party, she meets a mysterious acquaintance from her past, Thomas Holbrook. No one witnesses this meeting and Matty tells no one about it.
Things start to go badly wrong at the party when Miss Pole and Mrs Forrester overhear Sir Charles's startling news that a railway line will be built to come right into Cranford. They immediately report this to Deborah, who leads a deputation of the ladies to Captain Brown in hopes of having the rumour refuted. But Captain Brown shocks them further by telling them that not only is the rumour true, but that he will be the Head of Works. All the women are scandalized by this news, but the most stricken is Deborah, who sees Captain Brown's secrecy as the ultimate betrayal of a friendship, and the railway as the absolute end of Cranford.

Episode 3 - As winter approaches, Cranford is beset by sorrows and struggles to re-gain its confidence.
When Dr Harrison's housekeeper, Mrs Rose, discovers a leg of mutton has been stolen from by the kitchen window on the very same night that Mr Johnson, the owner of the town's most important store, is mugged, the ladies decide that a crime wave has hit Cranford.
Mr Johnson, meanwhile, becomes convinced that Job Gregson, the local ne'er-do-well, must be his attacker and Job is arrested. Job's son Harry decides to make a confession to Mr Carter of his own part in the poaching to save his father from transportation and has to bear the acute disappointment in him that Mr Carter feels. Mr Carter pleads Job's case with Lady Ludlow, saying that without her interference Job will be found guilty and the Gregson family will starve. Lady Ludlow is immovable; the Gregsons are not her responsibility.
Christmas arrives and Cranford huddles together to celebrate, though the town has been so buffeted by events that it feels strangely unsure of itself. An invitation for Matty arrives from Mr Holbrook, asking her to visit him on his farm. Miss Pole and Mary urge her to accept and they accompany her on what turns out to be a delightful - and hopeful - day for Matty.
Meanwhile, Dr Harrison confides in his medical school friend Jack Marshland about his love for Sophy. Jack encourages him to send her some Valentine flowers. But Jack, a perpetual prankster, has set up some mischief by sending a Valentine card to Caroline Tomkinson as if from Dr Harrison, hinting at marriage. Caroline is ecstatic and eagerly awaits Dr Harrison's proposal.

Episode 4 - Matty suffers great disappointment and, in a nostalgic mood one evening, decides to confide in Mary about Mr Holbrook and how things were put asunder by a trick played by her younger brother, Peter, who then ran away in disgrace to India and has not been seen since.
The mention of India prompts Mary to write to Major Gordon to tell him that Jessie regrets her decision not to marry him, since her father is now so busy at the railway works he really has no need for her.
Dr Harrison visits the Rectory and formally asks the Reverend Hutton for permission to court Sophy. He promises he will propose as soon as he is able to provide a home for her.
At an auction, Dr Harrison bids for a small table. When he gets it home, he discovers it is a sewing table, so suggests his housekeeper Mrs Rose might like to use it. To Miss Pole and Mrs Forrester, this is tantamount to a proposal. Gullible Mrs Rose believes them and allows them to dye the grey out of her hair. They convince her that Dr Harrison will propose on May Day.
Miss Tomkinson, meanwhile, becomes concerned by Caroline's fretful waiting for Dr Harrison to proclaim his love, and decides to draw him out on the matter.
Finally, preparations for May Day excite everyone in the town. Everyone has high expectations of the day. Dr Harrison looks forward to the first time he will be able to be with Sophy openly as a couple. The whole town gathers on the Heath.

Episode 5 - Jem and Martha marry, and live as lodgers in Matty's house - a source of joy for Matty.
Meanwhile, Miss Pole invites the ladies of the town to a secret meeting to discuss Matty's crisis. United in their love for Matty, they decide to secretly share part of their own incomes with her. Mary is recruited to devise a means of getting this to Matty without her knowing where the money came from.
Dr Harrison, on the other hand, is shunned by the town - no patients will come to him now that he has been exposed as a philanderer. Dr Morgan suggests he must move on to start afresh somewhere he is not known.
Mr Carter is horrified to discover that Lady Ludlow has secretly mortgaged her estate to raise money for her son's villa in Italy. He confronts her and there is a heated exchange. Mr Carter despairs of what to do, because he knows what pain such an unfathomable mortgage has cost her personally.
Sophy returns to Cranford ill, but is diagnosed by Dr Morgan as simply being heart-broken. He assures Reverend Hutton that, with time and love from her family, she will recover. But by the time Jack Marshland arrives in town to help clear Dr Harrison's name, Sophy's condition has worsened and is recognised as typhoid fever. He enlists Mrs Rose's help in treating her, while Dr Harrison is physically barred from either seeing Sophy or assisting.
Mr Carter visits Captain Brown at the railway works in a desperate attempt to see if he can raise capital for Lady Ludlow's mortgage by selling timber or tools. While he is there, disaster strikes and the injured are taken to Dr Harrison's for emergency treatment. As Sophy's condition deteriorates, her young sisters defy their father and run to ask Dr Harrison to help. But has the call come too late?

North & South
Episode 1 - As the story opens, Margaret Hale is staying with her aunt Shaw in London, where she attends her cousin Edith’s smart society wedding. At the ball, she attracts potential suitors herself and prompts an unwelcome proposal when she confesses that she too dreams of a fairytale wedding. So she is quite happy to return to her comfortable life at her father’s parsonage in rural Hampshire.

But her privileged lifestyle is shattered when her father decides to leave the Church on a matter of conscience, and move to the grim industrial northern town of Milton.

On arrival in Milton, the social cost of the industrial revolution is apparent and Margaret and her family are exposed to a severe cultural shock. Margaret takes instant offence at the town and its people. She is terribly lonely and hates the dirt, noise and lack of civilisation, blaming their new way of life for her mother’s failing health.

The family are financially hard up, but proud. Mr Hale takes a position as a private tutor, teaching classics to the nouveaux-riches of the industrialised towns – the mill-owning classes. One of his pupils is a Mr John Thornton.

Margaret is shocked and appalled when she first meets Thornton. He is savagely beating up one of his mill-workers for smoking. No matter that a previous mill fire killed 300 workers, Margaret thinks it inexcusable. She instantly takes a snobbish dislike to him and his family, and what she regards as their vulgar and uneducated ways.

Episode 2 - Margaret is beginning to settle in Milton. Her social consciousness is awakened and she befriends some of the local mill workers, learning about their poverty and workplace struggles.

Margaret’s mother’s health is deteriorating and she knows that she would love to see her son, Frederick, before she dies. She writes to him in Spain but Frederick has been involved in a mutiny at sea. After standing up to the overbearing captain, he was declared a traitor; if he returns to Britain, he will be court-martialled and killed.

Margaret takes it upon herself to try to help the workers in their struggle. Bessie and Margaret become close friends and Margaret starts to feel more at ease in Milton, though she’s still appalled at John Thornton’s treatment of his workers and wants to return to her beloved Helstone.

When she intervenes in an industrial dispute at Thornton’s mill, Margaret causes a stir in the town and, in particular, amongst Thornton’s family. His proud mother and precious sister believe she may be making advances on John’s heart as well as his wealth. Nothing could be further from Margaret’s mind, but Thornton is secretly holding a torch for her.

Episode 3 - When her friend Bessie dies from a work-related disease, Margaret’s feelings towards the mill-owning classes are reinforced. For her, John Thornton represents this loathsome group more than anyone, and Margaret takes it upon herself to try to help the workers with their struggle.

Gradually, however, Margaret and Thornton begin to learn and understand a little more about each other. Margaret begins to comprehend the benefits that the new industrialised society will bring, and starts to see Thornton’s caring and compassionate side, his zest for life and longing for the education he was denied as a child. Thornton admires Margaret’s fighting spirit and her charitable nature. With the help and advice of Margaret and some of her worker friends, he begins to make changes at his mill for the benefit of the workers and productivity alike. He becomes a model mill-owner.

In Milton, Maria has taken a turn for the worse and Margaret is shocked by her mother’s condition. However, one night, Frederick turns up at the door and the family is temporarily reunited. But when Margaret sees her brother off at the train station,Thornton passes by and, seeing her embrace an unknown man, jumps to the wrong conclusion...

Episode 4 - As events spiral out of her control, Margaret begins to fall for Thornton. Thornton finds himself in serious financial difficulty, but he has not lost his compassion. When Margaret bumps into him in Milton, she tries to explain that all was not as it seemed when he saw her last at the railway station.

Meanwhile, devastated by the death of his wife, Richard Hale goes to Oxford to stay with his old friend, Mr Bell (Brian Protheroe). But soon, he too is dead. Mr Bell breaks the news to Margaret and promises that, as her godfather, he will look after her. Margaret prepares to leave Milton and says her farewells; she is genuinely sad to leave the North.

When Bell tries to cheer her up by taking her to Helstone, Margaret realises she has romanticised the South and that she cannot go back in time – life has changed. But her fortunes are transformed when Bell signs over his wealth to her, so that she can enjoy it and he can live out his last years in South America, something he has long dreamt of.

Margaret becomes a rich woman – and Thornton’s landlord. Back in Milton, Thornton’s finances are in severe trouble and he is forced to leave the mill. Higgins lets slip that Margaret was not with another admirer at the station that night – but that it was her brother.Thornton thinks deeply about Margaret and decides to take a pilgrimage to Helstone to see her beloved village for himself.

At the same time, Margaret travels to Milton to put a business proposition to Thornton in order to save the mill and give her a better return on her investment. By chance, the pair meet at a railway station in the Midlands...

Wives and Daughters
Episode 1 - Summer, 1820 - Ten-year-old Molly Gibson attends the annual garden party held at Cumnor Towers, the grand house near Hollingford, the town where she lives. Overcome by all the grandeur, she is taken inside to rest by a beautiful woman named Mrs. Kirkpatrick, who promises to look after her. But Molly awakes to find the villagers have left without her. Mrs. Kirkpatrick tells Molly she may join the adults at dinner, but again this is a daunting experience and Molly is relieved when her father comes to collect her.
Seven Years Later - Molly has blossomed into a pretty 17-year-old. She lives contentedly with her widower father, a highly reputed local doctor. When his pupil, Mr. Coxe, confesses he loves Molly, Mr. Gibson panics - suddenly aware that his little girl has grown into a young woman. He forbids Coxe to pursue Molly and hastily dispatches her on an extended visit to Squire and Mrs. Hamley of Hamley Hall. Molly adores the frail Mrs. Hamley and becomes infatuated with her charismatic elder son, Osborne. His fond parents consider him to be as brilliant as he is handsome , so trouble erupts when their younger son, Roger, returns home with news that Osborne has failed his exams and is unlikely to win the expected university fellowship. Soon after, Mr. Gibson announces that he is to remarry. His intended bride is Mrs. Kirkpatrick, the former governess at Cumnor Towers whom Molly met when she was a girl. Molly expects the worst .

Episode 2 - At Hamley Hall, the Squire banishes Osborne from the house when it is discovered that he has run up considerable debts and refuses to explain them. This throws Mrs. Hamley into a state of terminal decline - she is sure that Osborne would tell her if only she could see him. Molly returns to the Hall to comfort her, and realises she is dying. The griefstricken boys arrive home, and Molly finds herself taking the responsibility of comforting all the family. Molly has begun to suspect that her new mamma, though outwardly sweet and kind, is selfish and manipulative at heart. When she returns home, she finds that the new Mrs. Gibson has sacked Betty, who had looked after Molly since she was a child. The only bright star on the horizon is the anticipated return of Mrs. Gibson's daughter, Cynthia, who is studying in France. But Mrs. Gibson warns that Cynthia can be very difficult to live with. Cynthia arrives in Hollingford and Molly finds her beautiful, charming and irresistible .They soon become firm friends, though Molly finds her new sister slightly mysterious. Cynthia's relationship with her mother is distant and awkward. When a handsome former acquaintance, Mr. Preston, pays a visit, both women become cagey. What is it all about, wonders the innocent Molly?
Mrs. Hamley dies, and the Squire turns his grief and rage on Osborne, whom he blames for her death. Osborne disappears on one of his frequent, unexplained trips. Meanwhile Roger goes to a local card party and is captivated by Cynthia. This upsets Molly, but why? She is only friends with Roger after all. The reason for Osborne's strange behavior becomes clear when Molly overhears a conversation between the two brothers about Osborne's "pretty French wife", a former nursery maid.

Episode 3 - Horrified that his secret is out, Osborne swears Molly to secrecy. Roger urges Osborne to tell their father the truth. But Osborne fears the Squire's anger; it is well-known that he expects his heir to marry someone rich and well-born, in addition to which he notoriously hates the French! Molly and Cynthia prepare for the Easter Charity Ball in high spirits - until flowers arrive for Cynthia from Mr. Preston, with a note claiming two dances. Cynthia's mood darkens and she throws the flowers in the fire, declaring that she will not dance with him. At the ball, the girls happily dance with a number of eager partners. But again Cynthia's mood changes when Preston arrives. She becomes quiet and withdrawn, though strangely she does consent to dance with him. Molly senses that there is a concealed history between them. After the ball, Cynthia falls into a decline. Roger visits often, bringing her presents and treating her with a kind and honest affection. Then Roger is appointed to lead a pioneering scientific expedition to Africa. He rushes to tell the Gibsons, but Mrs. Gibson is rude to him and sends him away - he is the younger son and it is Osborne she wants for Cynthia. A few days later, Osborne visits Mr. Gibson. He has been feeling unwell and wants Gibson's opinion. Mrs. Gibson eavesdrops at the consulting room door, and soon after writes to Roger apologizing for her rudeness and urging him to visit. He returns to pay a final call on them before he goes to Africa and, finding Cynthia alone, proposes to her and is accepted. Molly is heartbroken.

Episode 4 - Molly questions Cynthia about Roger - does she really love him? Cynthia is coy. She says she respects him but she does not really love anyone, and anyway, he will be away for two years and many things might happen in that time. Mrs. Gibson tells her husband about the engagement and reveals that she thinks it is a good match, given that Osborne has serious health problems. Mr. Gibson is very shocked and furious to realize that she has deliberately eavesdropped and, making use of confidential medical information, had decided to encourage Roger's courtship of Cynthia, thinking him now likely to be Hamley heir. But Mrs. Gibson fails to see that she has done anything wrong. Mr. Gibson's congratulations to Cynthia also turn sour when she demands total secrecy about the engagement but he insists on telling the Squire. "Why must it be secret," he asks? Cynthia will not say. Osborne has still not told his father about his wife Aimée, who has now had a baby. He loves both mother and child dearly, but worries excessively about how he might be able to support them. A moment of potential closeness between him and his father is torn apart when the Squire insists that Osborne marry someone with both money and position.
While Roger explores Africa and writes his passionate letters to Cynthia, she happily visits her wealthy relations in London and dances merrily with a handsome barrister named Mr. Henderson. All of this is reported to Molly, who is upset by Cynthia's apparent callousness. Molly's affections for Roger have deepened, and she spends hours alone charting the progress of his journey and reading about the wonderful discoveries he is making along the way. By now gossip is starting in the village about Mr. Preston. He has been spotted at odd hours with a young lady.

Episode 5 - Miss Browning, a family friend of the Gibson's, becomes convinced that the young woman seen with Mr. Preston is
Molly and she upbraids her in front of Mrs. Gibson and Cynthia for being involved with a man of bad character. Innocent Molly is annoyed at Miss Browning, but Cynthia becomes quiet and secretive. The next day, out walking in the woods, Molly comes across Cynthia and Preston in a passionate argument. Preston reveals that they have been secretly engaged for several years, but Cynthia tell him she hates him and will never marry him. Molly takes the hysterical Cynthia home.
That night, Cynthia tells her the whole story. She and her mother had been very poor. When Cynthia was 15, Mr. Preston, a family friend, lent her money, then persuaded her to agree to marry him when she was 20. Discovering that he was ruthless and manipulative, she tried to break off the engagement, but he refused to take back the money and threatened her with some incriminating letters she had written to him. Cynthia is desperate; if her secret comes out she will be publicly disgraced and her reputation ruined. Molly vows to help Cynthia. She arranges a rendezvous with Preston and insists he gives back the letters. Preston sneers - why should he? He loves Cynthia. She has treated him badly, but he will make her love him. Just when it seems that Molly has failed, she gets an idea. She will confide in Lady Harriet, daughter of Lord Cumnor, Preston's employer. Preston panics, realizing that she could get him dismissed. It is at that moment that they are surprised by the appearance of a local gossip, who thinks he has discovered a lovers' tryst. Preston will not deny it, seriously compromising Molly's reputation.
Knowing he is beaten, Mr. Preston returns the letters to a jubilant Cynthia. While she is in London, Molly has the dangerous task of returning his money. While Molly is on her own, Osborne visits. He is ill and wants someone else to have Aimée's address, in case something should happen. On a trip into town, Molly spots Mr. Preston and slips him the envelope of money. She is observed by a local gossip, Mrs. Goodenough. Word spreads that Molly has "lost her character", prompting Miss Browning to confront Mr. Gibson. He is furious. He knows she is innocent, but he also knows the world. Molly is ostracized - until help comes from an unexpected source. Lady Harriet confronts Preston and forces him to admit the truth. She then restores Molly's reputation by promenading openly with her around the town. Lady Cumnor harangues Mrs. Gibson for being a bad mother. But Mrs. Gibson knew nothing of Cynthia's engagement to Preston. Now Cynthia is really in trouble. Berated by her mother and step-father for her bad behaviour, she breaks down and flees to her room, emerging later to announce that she has written to Roger breaking off their engagement.

Episode 6 - The shocking news arrives at the Gibson house that Osborne is dead. Molly springs into action, riding across to Hamley Hall to comfort the Squire, who collapses in grief. Molly is left with the terrifying task of telling him that Osborne was married and had a child. The Squire is amazed that such a secret could exist between father and son and repents of his terrible treatment of Osborne. "But it's all too late, too late," he cries. Aimée and the baby arrive at the Hall. She collapses when she learns that Osborne is dead. The Squire quickly takes to looking after the little boy, whom he renames Osborne. Molly looks after them all. Aimee slowly recovers and an exhausted Molly returns home. Cynthia arrives back from London and announces that she is going to marry Mr. Henderson. Molly cannot believe how quickly she has transferred her affections, but Cynthia laughs it off in her usual style. News arrives that Roger has returned early from Africa for a few weeks and will be guest-of-honor at a party at Cumnor Towers. Lady Harriet invites Molly, who finds a matured Roger the centre of attention. He finds Molly changed too - no longer the girl whom he thought of as a sister, but a beautiful and confident young woman. They are still close friends, but now he realizes that he loves her too. Does he have time to convince her of this love? Roger invites Molly to visit them at Hamley Hall the following week. Just when everything seems right in Molly's world, she overhears a conversation - in aiming at Roger Hamley, isn't she aiming her sights a bit high? Molly is mortified and is consequently withdrawn and awkward with Roger during her visit to the Hall. Roger despairs. Then little Osborne is diagnosed with scarlet fever and Mr. Gibson insists that Molly returns home immediately. Desperate to win Molly's affections before she leaves, Roger asks her to choose a flower for him to keep. It becomes clear to both of them that they are in love. Roger pleads with Mr. Gibson to let him visit Molly before he goes back to Africa, but Mr. Gibson insists on quarantine. Roger climbs aboard the stage coach but realizes he cannot leave. He finds Molly and they declare their love for each other.
Epilogue - Molly walks around the gardens of Hamley Hall chatting confidently and happily with the guests who have come from all parts of the community to celebrate the new mistress of Hamley Hall and bid farewell to Roger who must complete his African trip. Roger walks up to Molly and takes her hand. They look happy and excited as if they have a secret from their guests, and they do.

Cranford

Written by Elizabeth Gaskell, Sue Birtwistle, Susie Conklin, Heidi Thomas
Directed by Simon Curtis, Steve Hudson
Produced by Sue Birtwistle
Executive Produced by Rebecca Eaton, Kate Harwood
Original Music by Carl Davis
Cinematography by Ben Smithard
Film Editing by Frances Parker, Dan Roberts
Costume Design by Jenny Beavan

North & South

Written by Elizabeth Gaskell, Sandy Welch
Directed by Brian Percival
Produced by Kate Bartlett
Executive Produced by Phillippa Giles, Laura Mackie
Original Music by Martin Phipps
Editing by Kristina Hetherington
Costume Design by Mike O’Neill

Wives and Daughters

Written by Elizabeth Gaskell
Screenplay by Andrew Davies
Produced by Sue Birtwistle
Directed by Nicholas Renton
Executive Produced by Rebecca Eaton
Original Music by John E. Keane
Cinematography by Fred Tammes
Costume Design by Dierdre Clancy

Cranford

"It is as immediately compelling as Andrew Davies's 2005 adaptation of Dickens' Bleak House, and infinitely more charming." - Tessa Gibbs, Sunday Telegraph

"It's very unusual to find a period drama that makes you laugh out loud but Cranford definitely does. Not only is there wit but there are also some great comedy sequences ... However, it's the withering put-downs from Dame Eileen Atkins's character Miss Deborah that completely steal the show." - David Stephenson, Express on Sunday

"Predictably, the highlight of the evening, indeed of the weekend's, schedules ... a near-flawless start to an adaptation of three Elizabeth Gaskell novels. The pick of the outstanding cast is Eileen Atkins as Deborah Jenkyns, the self-appointed enforcer of Cranford's unwritten moral code, and this is from the outset rather moving and often hilarious." - Karl French, Financial Times

Wives and Daughters

"In a league of its own... wonderfully written and acted with truth and depth."- Daily Telegraph

"Extremely affecting performances... make Wives and Daughters subtle and powerful viewing... It also looks beautiful."- Independent

North & South

“Thanks to a sharp script, which just about shoehorns Mrs Gaskell’s expansive novel into four episodes, and convincing performances from all the leading characters ... North & South is an intelligent, moving, thought-provoking and visually striking adaptation, traditional TV drama at its best.” -The Times

“Compelling ... may well be the period drama hit of the year ... We often hear about the north/south divide. Here it is in its rawest form.” Sunday Express

“Handsomely filmed and full of compelling social issues, this four-part series should attract a large audience ... Daniela Denby-Ashe is fascinating to watch as the confused Margaret and she is surrounded by a strong cast.” -Observer

“...beautifully wrought ... The principle theme of North And South ... could have been ripped from today’s headlines.” -Sunday Express

“Class drama.”- Daily Star

“Mrs Gaskell’s North & South still packs a punch ... As Margaret, Daniela Denby-Ashe has the requisite freshness (and, as time goes on, perhaps the toughness), and this is a costumer that should live up to BBC standards.” -Financial Times

“Programme of the Week.The BBC does costume dramas exceptionally well ... Armitage is smouldering.”- Daily Mail

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